Small Group Resource Review: Crazy Love

Last year, I reviewed the book Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan.Chan is pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA and an increasingly popular speaker among college students and young adults.He is even speaking at the Pastor’s Conference of the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville this June.

Francis Chan has one of those relationships with Jesus that is vibrant, personal, real and compelling.It comes through in every message.That was the thrust of Crazy Love—to realize the depth of God’s love for you and then respond with what some people call crazy love back towards Him with our lives.

Recently, Chan released a study resource for small groups based on Crazy Love (David C. Cook, 2009). Group members are to read a chapter of the book, and then get together for discussion to help each other grasp and apply the truths there.Each session features a video vignette with Francis, following him through a typical day in his life — from getting up in the morning, to the market and more.Chan is a natural on camera, very at ease with a direct and conversational style.

He closes each 6-8 minute segment with a couple of key questions that toss the discussion back to the group.These are good, open-ended questions that would provoke deep thought and sharing.My sense is that those discussions would not only help an individual grapple with the truths, but also help a group of disciples take the next step in building authentic community with one another.

If your group is looking for a very different kind of study, one that would refresh your passion for Jesus, Crazy Love would be a good one to consider.